Holder for containers such as casseroles and the like



Aug. 2, 1960 R. E. TROENDLY 4 HOLDER FOR CONTAINERS SUCH AS CASSEROLES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RA) E. TROENDL K 5 BY J Q fi A/D aJU ATTORNEYS Aug. 2, 1960 R. E. TROENDLY HOLDER FOR CONTAINERS SUCH AS CASSEROLES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 18, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 whim! v INVENTOR RAY E. TROENDLY A'ITORNEY6 Aug. 2, 1960 R. E. TROENDLY 2,947,458

HOLDER FOR CONTAINERS SUCH AS CASSEROLES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR RA Y E. TROENDLY ATTORNEYS 2,947,458 Patented Aug. 2, 1960 free HOLDER FOR CONTAINERS SUCH AS CASSEROLES AND THE LIKE Ray E. Troendly, Elkton, Oreg., assignor to Troendly Illinois Corporation, Melrose Park, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 18, 1957, Ser. No. 635,046

2 Claims. (Cl. 224-45) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 578,126, filed April 13, 1956, now abandoned, for Casserole Holder.

This invention has to do broadly with the art and field of containers and, more particularly, relates to devices for use in supporting and handling containers. The invention is described herein as a device for supporting and handling a casserole but it is so described only by way of example and to illustrate one of the many different types of containers with which the inventio'n may be used, and it will be understood that devices according to the invention may be used in handling and supporting dishes, pots, pans, vases, flower pots, and other types and kinds of containers regardless of the material contained therein or the specific use to which the container may be put.

It has been the principal object of my invention to provide a device for use in handling and supporting a container of thegeneral type referred to which is adjustable in size whereby it will fit, and be useful with, containers of different sizes and shapes, thereby greatly increasing its usefulness.

A further principal object of the invention has been to provide such an adjustable handling and supporting device having incorporated therein means which cause the device to snugly and firmly grip the container with which it is used, thus imparting a feeling of confidence and safety to the user, which is of importance in the handling lateral and torsional rigidity and strength, thus additionally imparting a feeling of confidence and security to the user.

A still further object of my invention has been to provide a holder of the described type and for the described purpose which will incorporate means which support the container on a table or other surface in such a manner that the container is removed and thermally insulated from such surface, thus protecting the surface by preventing dissipation of heat from the container to the surface and, at the same time, preventing marring or scratching of the surface.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be made apparent by the following specification in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, but it is to be understood that these disclosed embodiments are only illustrative of the invention, which is not limited thereby or otherwise than by the appended claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a device according to the invention for supporting and handling a container such as a casserole;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device disclosed in Fig.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view which is similar to Fig. 2 showing a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a view which is similar to Fig. 2 showing a third embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a view which is similar to Fig. 3 showing a fourth embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a view which is similar to Fig. 2 showing a fifth embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 9 is an end view of the device illustrated in Fig. 8.

In accordance with my invention I provide a device for supporting and handling containers such as casseroles and the like which comprises, in general, a base part consisting of two spaced, parallel pairs of side bars, the bars of each pair being parallel and closely adjacent to each other, and some means connecting each bar of each pair to a bar of the other pair, thus providing a base having two parts which may be moved relatively to each other by sliding the bars lengthwise of each other. As a most important part of the invention I provide a coil spring closely surrounding each pair of side bars and constantly urging the two parts of the base toward each other but permitting them to be drawn apart against the force of the springs to adapt the device to containers of different sizes and shapes. Each spring closely surrounds the pair of bars with which it is associated and thereby holds the bars together in intimate, side-by-side sliding relationship, thus providing a structure having lateral and torsional strength and rigidity and which securely and firmly holds a container with which it is associated and imparts a feeling of confidence and security to the user, which is of particular importance when the device is used inhandling a hot container or one holding a liquid. With each of thetwo parts of the base there is associated an upstanding part having means which engages the wall ofthe container at one or more points. By reason of the combination of these elements or parts there is provided a device which firmly and securely grips a container with which it is used, which may be used with containers of different sizes and shapes, which is rigid in constructon and imparts to the user a feeling of solidity and strength, and which supports the container with whichit is 'used above the table top or other surface on which the container is supported, thus thermally insulating the container from such surface.

It will be apparent that a device for handling and sup porting containers may, within the purview and scope of the invention, take a variety of forms and in this specification a number of these will be described. One embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 and comprises two substantially identical parts which are movable with respect to each other for adjustment to hold casseroles of different sizes and shapes, and which together form a base part and parts which engage the opposite side walls of a container. In this embodiment of the invention the base part of the holder is formed by two U shaped frames A, B which are adapted to be disposed in a horizontal plane when the holder rests on a table or other supporting surface in its normal and intended use. Frame A comprises spaced, parallel side bars 2, 4 which "are connected at adjacent ends by a transverse member 6 and frame B comprises spaced, parallel side bars 8, 10 which are connected at adjacent ends by a transverse member 12. These two frames are so arranged that the side bars 2, 8 are in side-by-side abutting relation and the side bars 4, 10 are in the same size or shape. member 24 is curved inwardly, as shown at 26, to aprelation to each other, with the transverse members 6,

12 of the two frame members spaced apart at opposite I side 'ba'r 10 of frame B. This arrangement permits the .two U-shaped frames to be identical in size and at the same time permits the. transverse members 6, 12 to act as stops for the ends of the inside bars 4, 8 to thereby limit i the movement of the two frames toward each other.

Means are provided on. each of the two frame members A, B for engaging the side wall of a container with .which the holder is used. Each of these containerengaging means comprises two members 20, 22 which are attached at their lower ends to one of the transverse members 6, 12 of the U-shaped frames A, B and which extend upwardly therefrom to a height which is suitable or necessary to engage the side wall of a casserole sub- ,stantially above its bottom. At their upper ends each pair of upright members 20, 22 supports a transversely extending member 24 which is arcuately curved to provide point contact with the side wall of a casserole of any At its opposite ends each transverse proximately circular shape, thus providing abutments which may engage the side or the wall of the container. The upright members 20, 22 are turned outwardly from the transverse member 24, as shown at 28, and at their outer ends support a handle 30, which preferably extends in general parallelism to the adjacent transverse member 24.

Means are provided by the invention for resiliently urging the two parts of the holder toward each other while permitting them to be separated in order to permit the holder to be used with containers of different sizes and shapes, and for holding together the side bars at each pair of such bars in order to impart lateral and torsional stability, rigidity and strength to the device at any and all positions of extension. In the embodiment of the invention being described these means comprise two extension springs 40, 42 which, respectively, surround the pairs of adjacent side bars 2, 8 and 4, of the U-shaped frame members A, B and which are attached at their opposite ends to the upright members 20, 22 of the frame members. These springs constantly urge the two, parts of the holder to a position in which the distance between the curved transverse members 24 IS a minimum. The parts are held from further movement toward each other by engagement of the ends of the side bars 4, 8 with the transverse, members 6, 12.

In the more specific aspects of the present invention it has been found to be particularly eflfective to employ the form of side bars and coil springs shown, by way of example, in Fig. 4. In this especially effective form, the side members, legs or bars 4 and 10 are made of sheet material having a generally rectangular ribbonadjacent one another and that the convolutions of the springs impart two components of force to each side bar. A first component of force is in the direction of the major transverse cross-sectional dimension of the bar. A second component of force is imparted in a direction transverse to the minor cross-sectional dimension of each bar.

These components are effective to maintain the ribbonlike side bars or legs in parallelism throughout their rela- '.tive sliding and telescoping relation, notwithstanding the the springs impart lateral and torsional stability, rigidity 4 tendency of the forces imposed as a result of engaging a container, which forces tend to cause the side bars to move out of parallelism. This is due to the fact that the positions of contact with the container lie outside of the general plane of the slidable guide members.

In the use and operation of a holder according to the invention the handles 30 are grasped and pulled in opposite directions to separate the two parts of the holder against the force of the springs 40, 42 until the transverse members 24 are sufficiently far apart to receive the container which is to be handled and supported. The container is then placed within the holder with its bottom resting on the springs 40, 42 and the handles 30 are released, causing the springs 40, 42 to move the two parts of the holder toward each other until parts of the transverse members 24 engage the exterior of the wall of the casserole at opposite sides thereof, thus firmly but releasably holding the container'within the holder. If the holder is used with a hot container, such as a casserole just taken from the oven, the springs 40, 42 will insulate the hot casserole from the table top or other supporting surface. When the container is to be removed from the holder the handles 30 may be grasped and pulled in directions away from each other in order to move the part 24 of the holder out of engagement with the wall of the container, which may then be removed from the holder. The handles 30 are then released to permit the springs 40, 42 toretract the two parts of the tached at their ends to the transverse members 6, 12-

of the frames A, B but may, if desired, be attached at their ends to the side bars 2, 4, 8, 10. Such a construction is disclosed in Fig. 5, in which it will be seen that the spring 50 which surrounds the pair of side bars 2, 8 is connected at its opposite ends to the side bars 2, 8 themselves, and the spring 52 which surrounds the pair of side bars 4, 10 is connected at its opposite ends to the side bars 4, 10. The springs 50, 52 closely surround the two pairs of side bars and provide all of the functions of the springs 40, 42 as described herein. I

The invention also contemplates that compression springs may be used instead of extension springs and a device according to the invention and embodying such springs is disclosed in Fig. 6. In this embodiment the free end of each side bar is turned at right angles to prow'de an abutment against which the end of a compression spring bears. Thus, as shown in Fig. 6, the two frame members have side bars 60, 62 and 64, 66 and the free ends of these side bars are turned at right angles as shown at 68, 70, 72, 74, respectively. A compression spring 76 closely surrounds one pair of side bars 60, 62 and bears at its opposite ends against the abutments 68, 70 and a second compression spring 78 closely surrounds the second pair of side bars 64, 66 and bears at its opposite ends against the abutments 72, 74. These two springs constantly urge the two frame members toward each other to a position of minimum separation between the container-engaging parts 26 and, as each spring closely surrounds its associated pair of side bars,

and strength to the device and provide the additional functions described herein.

It will be apparent that constructional features of many parts of a container handling and supporting device according to the invention may be varied Within wide limits within the scope of the invention. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, only one upstanding member 75 may be provided on the transverse member 6, 12 of the two frames A, B, for supporting the transverse containerengaging member, instead of the two members 20, 22

which are 1 to 4.

A still further embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 8 and 9 and in this embodiment the two frame members which form the base of the device are not U-shaped as in the other disclosed embodiments. In this form of the invention two spaced parallel pairs of side bars are provided. One pair comprises the bars 80, 82 and the second pair comprises the bars 84, 86. The bars of each pair are parallel and closely adjacent to each other and each pair is closely surrounded by a coil spring 88. These springs are shown as extension springs, and are therefore connected at their .ends to the side bars 80, 82, 84, 86, respectively. They may, of course, be compression springs. At their outer ends the side bars 80, 84 are turned upwardly that is, out of the planeof the side bars, as at 90, and then outwardly, that is, away from the parallel and adjacent parts of the side bars, as at 92, and at their extremities support a handle 94. A transversely-extending container-engaging member 96 is connected to each pair ofadjacent upstanding parts 90 and is similar in construction and function to the members 26 of Figs. 1 to 4. The other ends of the side bars 80, 84 are free and in intimate, side-by-side sliding relationship with the side bars 82, 86. At their outeradjacent ends the side bars 82, 86 are turned upwardly', as at 98, and then outwardly, as at 100and at their extremities support a handle 102. A transverselyextending container-engaging member 104 is connected to each. pair of adjacent upstanding parts 98 and is similar in construction and function to the members 26 of Figs. 1 to 4. It will be seen that either or both of thezhandles 94, 102 and transversely-extending members 96, .104 join the side bars into a unitary deviceformed of two relatively-movable parts. The springs 88 correspond in arrangement, structure and function to the springs 40, 42 of Figs. 1 to 4 and therefore closely surround the two pairs of side bars to constantly urge the two parts of the device toward each other and to impart lateral and torsional strength and rigidity to the device.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the springs which surround the pairs of side bars, whether they be extension or compression springs, form a very important part of devices according to my invention. These springs, of course, have the primary function of urging the two parts of the device toward each other and permitting these parts to be resiliently separated in order to adjust the device to containers of different sizes. The springs also have the second, and very important, function of providing lateral and torsional strength and rigidity to the entire device. This effect is due to the confinement of each pair of relatively slidable side bars within a spring coil and also to the provision of two such springs, located at opposite sides of the holder. The effect of confinement of each of the two pairs of bars is to hold the bars of each pair in intimate, free-sliding relationship and, at the same time, to prevent angular displacement of the bars with respect to each other. It will be noted that separation of the two parts of the holder will create forces tending to rotate the free ends of bars of both frames upwardly in opposite directions. This movement of the bars is prevented by the confining springs and the base of the holder is therefore maintained in a stable and planar condition. The confining effect of the springs is also exerted in such a way as to prevent relative angular movement of the two parts of the holder about a vertical axis, which movement might be caused by unaligned forces applied to the two parts of the holder in opening the same. The two springs, being equidistant from the longitudinal center line of the holder, exert substantially equal forces as the parts of the holder are opened and closed, thus adding stability to the device. In addition, each spring, being cylindrical in shape and formed of spaced convoluprovided in the embodiment disclosed in Figs.

tions, has a plurality of point contacts with a container within the device and with the table top or other surface, thus reducing to a minimum the transfer of heat from the container to the surface with consequent protection of the surface and conservation of heat in the container. Further, as the springs are formed of open, spaced convolutions, air passes freely through them and cools them, thus additionally protecting the surface. A still further result of the provision of these springs is the prevention of marring, scarring or scratching of the table top or other surface on which the container and its holder are placed. This is due to the distribution of the weight of the container Over the great number of point contacts between the springs and the surface, with consequent reduction in the load at each of such point contacts.

In all embodiments of the invention the two pairs of closely adjacent relatively-slidable bars which form the sides of the base of the device are spaced apart a distance sulficient to give lateral stability to the holder even when a wide casserole or holder is placed within it. It has been found that if the distance between the axes of the two springs whichconfine the side bars is approximately one-half the length of the base of the holder good lateral stability will be achieved.

The preferred shape of the container-engaging members 24 is disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3. This member is preferably disposed above the supporting surface provided by the confining springs by a distance which is such that, if acontainer rests on the springs, its center of mass, with or without contents, will be below the level of thehorizontally aligned members 24, thus providing stability to the combined holder and container. Each member 24 is preferably arcuately and outwardly shaped, as shown in the drawings, thus providing localized contact with any. containerwhich is of less width than the distance between the end abutments 26. Such a container will be engaged at one or more points by each member 24, depending on its shape, and. lateral movement of the holder away from the container will be prevented by the end abutments 26. If the holder is applied to a container which is wider than the distance between abutments 26 its sides will be engaged at four points by the abutments 26 and the container will be firmly held within the holder. The members 24 are preferably outwardly curved, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, but within the scope and purview of the invention may be outwardly and rectangularly shaped or may be flat and the phrase outwardly curved as used in this specification and in the appended claims is intended to refer to all such shapes and configurations of these transverse members.

Throughout this specification and the appended claims the word upwardly is used to denote the direction of the space above the plane of the parallel and adjacent parts of the pairs of side bars on which a casserole rests when the device according to the invention is in its normal, intended use. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the parts 20, 22 extend upwardly from the base formed by the bars 2, 8, 4, 10 and the springs 40, 42 which surround the two pairs of bars, i.e., they extend in the direction of the casserole when the device is used in its intended manner. The word outwardly is used to denote the direction away from the casserole in the normal and intended use of the device. Thus, as shown in Fig. l, the transverse members 24 are upwar with respect to the assemblies of side bar members 2, 8, 4, 10 and their surrounding springs 40, 42 and the handles 30 are disposed outwardly of the transverse members 6, 12 of the frames A, B.

It Will also be understood that the springs which surround the pairs of bars in each embodiment of the invention are connected at their ends either to the bars themselves, or to the transverse members which connect the bars, or to members which extend upwardly from the bars or the transverse members. All. such connections of the ends of the springs are equivalent and pro- 7 vide, the same effect, where it .is stated in either the cifiq t pn or he la att e i 9 .4 at th@i d$ .t the; base w be. n r w r ny of these points of connection are included."

While have described certain embodiments of invention it will be apparent to those skilled in the arts to whichthe invention relates that other embodiments, as .Well as modifications of those disclosed, may be made and practised without departing in any way from the spirit or scope of the irivention, for the limits, of which reference must be made to the. appended claims.

1. A device for supporting and handling containers such as casseroles and the like, comprising a base part formed of I two parallel spaced pairs of side bars which are straight throughout their length, the bars of each pair being parallel to each otherand closely adjacent each other, a first memberintegra lly connecting one end 0f a bar of one of the pairs to the corresponding end of a bar of the other pair anda second member integrally con.- necting the, opposite end of thesecond bar of the, fi TSt .pair to the corresponding end of the second bar of the second pair, thereby to form a two-part base the parts of which are movable relatively to each other, a coil spring closely surrounding and engaging the parallel and closely adjacent bars of each pairand extending throughout substantially the entire lengththereof and connected at its ends to said members to constantly urge the two parts of the base toward each otherand. hold the bars of each pair in close, free-sliding relationship to each other, said springs spacing the said .base part from the supporting structure on which the holder rests, and means extending upwardly from each member of said two-part base for engaging spaced parts of the sidewall of a container.

2. A holder for contain'rs such as casseroles and the like comprising the combination of two pairs ofparallel closely adjacent bars whichare straight throughout their length and arranged in relatively sliding relation to each other, means connecting each barof each pair t'oa bar of the other pair to provide a two-part base the parts of which are movable relatively to each other, means attached to each part of the two-part base for engaging the side wall of a container, said container-engaging means being spaced above the general plane oflsaid base whereby the bars tend to be forced out of alignment with each other and into angular intersecting relation upon separation of the two parts of the base, ahelical coil springsiirr ounding each pair of bars and connected at its ends to differerit barsof the pair which it surrounds and providing a multiplicity of closely confining and guiding contacts said ba'rs to restrain the sairle from such angular displacement while a t the same'tiine permitting relative longitudinal sliding movement of such barswith respect to, each other withorit binding between them said springs spacing the said base from the supporting. structure on which the holder rests.

References Cited in the file of this patent lawno 

